Garden design: Sophisticated outdoor style

Gardens

Garden design: Sophisticated outdoor style

We'd almost stopped going outside. With its unappealing
patio and ramshackle shed, our 34' x 48' garden belonged to the overgrown shrubs, not to us. Even the lawn had quit, worn away by two badminton-loving girls. One brilliant design later, we now recline in the sun. We also dine under the stars, curl up on rainy days, hide away our bikes, bins and tools, and enjoy glorious blossoms spring, summer and fall. We even dance out here!

We have Bill Chandler, of Chandler & Company, to thank for this Georgian-style garden retreat inspired by our home's architecture. Bill erected a pavillion where the original garage stood decades before, adding a beautiful columned
porch. Separate storage rooms at either end of the building flank a high-ceilinged sitting room. Two terraces form the garden's centrepiece. "The yard has become a comfortable, dynamic space that takes advantage of the garden's width," says Bill. Perimeter pathways and planting beds enclose the terraces, surrounding us in flowers. There's magic in this design: adding the building to our little
garden has actually made it feel larger.

Dining terraceI was anxious about paving over so much of the backyard, but contrasting materials in size and colour helps vary the look. Small, creamy Brussels Block brick defines the seating area.
Garden roomFor a
cottage look, I whitewashed the plywood walls and chair rail so the grain shows. I found the scalloped table on sale at my friend Paige's shop, Wildbird. The inexpensive art prints feature plants found in my garden.
TrellisI had to be talked into painting this 14' x 8' trellis white, but it provides much-needed visual balance opposite the pavillion. It also creates a horizontal leading line for the eye across the
garden's largest dimension. Beautiful 'Little Lamb' hydrangeas encourage me to linger.
The viewThis pretty scene from my kitchen window shows how a great design can be enjoyed inside as well. Wrought-aluminum furniture is light and easy to move, especially when
entertaining.Perfect your garden room design with these ideas from owner Gillian Cummings.

Use it for three seasons, admire it for fourSince the sitting room isn't heated, it's simply used for garden
furniture storage in the winter, but even then, it's still a focal point from our house. Add architectural charm, such as a porch, columns or iron grates, for visual enjoyment in the colder months.

Incorporate pathwaysThink beyond a sitting room and terrace zones. Pathways in our garden lead from the driveway, back to the tool room, along a holly hedge to the trellis, and past a
peony border to our home's garden door. All these routes and destinations make this small garden seem bigger.

Wine & Spirits

4 must-try classic cocktail recipes

Learn to make these tasty signature cocktails for your next holiday party.

You may not be a mixologist, but these signature drinks will have guests convinced you’ve been taking secret bartending lessons. Word to the wise: Leave the fancy bottle spins to the professionals.

1 The Welder

Ingredients

1 1/2 oz Forty Creek Premium Barrel Select Whisky

1/2 oz Aperol

1 oz lemon juice

1 oz chili syrup

1 chili pepper, for garnish

Directions

Pour the whisky, Aperol, lemon juice and chili syrup into an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake well. Strain into an ice-filled lowball glass and top with the chili pepper.

2 Brandy Crusta

Ingredients

Freshly squeezed lemon juice

Granulated sugar, for garnish

2 oz Hennessy Very Special Cognac

Splash orange curaçao

Dash Angostura bitters

Peel of half a lemon, for garnish

Directions

Prepare a rock glass by moistening the rim with a touch of the lemon juice and dipping it in the sugar. Combine the cognac, curaçao, more lemon juice and the bitters in a shaker. Shake and strain into the glass. Add 1 ice cube and the lemon peel garnish.

Organizing Ideas

10 things to do in December

With the holiday season is upon us, make the most of this month by tackling these tasks.

As the song says, it's the most wonderful time of the year – and it only lasts a few weeks. Avoid seasonal stress by staying organized and having realistic expectations of what you can achieve. To help you make the most of the holiday season, here are 10 things to do this December.

1 Clean out the freezer
It's all too easy to let food accumulate in the freezer – and before long, not only is it too crowded to make room for more, but there are items in the back that should probably be thrown away. Set aside some time to organize your freezer – you may be amazed at what you'll find in there.

2 Make a wreath
Not only is a wreath on the front door inviting, but it really makes a house look like a home. If you've got the time, add a personal touch to your outdoor decor by making your own instead of buying one. And if you're really feeling inspired, make two and give the second to a friend as an early Christmas gift.

3 Get organized for gift wrapping
To save time during the hectic Christmas shopping season, set up a gift-wrapping station in an out-of-the-way spot in your home -- it will make it easy to wrap gifts as you buy them, and you won't be hunting around the house for the scissors, silver ribbon or gift tags. If you haven't got the space for a separate gift-wrapping table, put all your supplies in a couple of wicker baskets in the closet or under the bed for easy access.

4 Decorate the kitchen
Don't limit your holiday accents to the living room and entryway -- think about ways you can bring the spirit of the season into every room, including the kitchen. Try decorating the windowsill with candles and cedar boughs, putting a miniature Christmas tree on a shelf or draping doorways with garlands. For a finishing touch, simmer spices in water on the back of the stove to infuse your home with the comforting scent of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.

5 Cook up some appetizers
Get ready for guests – whether expected or impromptu – by preparing a selection of appetizers ahead of time. Just pick recipes that can be made in advance and frozen, and you could have a season's worth of hors d'oeuvres ready in an afternoon.

6 Host a cookie exchange
Rather than devoting hours of free time to baking each of your favourite holiday treats, arrange an exchange with friends and family. Organize it so that each person bakes a different type of cookie, enough to share around with everyone in the group. Don't forget to make a few extras to serve while everyone's exchanging the goods!

7 Hang some mistletoe
The custom of kissing under the mistletoe is said to come from an ancient Scandinavian tradition that when enemies met in the forest under mistletoe, they were to lay down their arms and observe a truce for the following day. Continue the tradition by hanging mistletoe in your home during the holiday season – and spread peace and goodwill among your guests.

8 Donate to the food bank
During this season of feasting, remember those who are less fortunate by bringing non-perishable food items or a monetary donation to your local food bank. Consider offering your time, as well, to help sort donations or perform other necessary tasks.

9 Let in the fresh air
It may be getting chilly outside, but that's no reason to keep the windows locked tight. Shutting up the house lets indoor pollutants accumulate, especially if it's fairly new and therefore airtight. Let in the cool, crisp air of early winter by opening the windows for a few minutes daily – longer if the weather is cooperating – and enjoy the fresh scent of a well-aired home.

10 Make homemade eggnog
Eggnog is so rich and sinfully delicious, it's probably a good thing we don't drink it all year round. So don't settle for nog in a carton – it's easy to make your own, and the results are well worth the time spent.

House Tours

A trendy-meets-traditional family home designed for everyday life

When you’re a designer who specializes in hip eateries, it’s natural to be nervous about designing your first home, especially when it comes to the kitchen. “I definitely felt a lot of pressure because I’m known for my work in the restaurant business,” says Tanya Krpan, design director for the popular North American restaurant chain Earls Kitchen + Bar. Throw in a spouse, Jure, who happens to be a builder and a baby on the way and you’ve almost got the makings of a reality show. But this one has a happy ending: “I did most of the interior, and Jure handled the construction,” says Tanya. “We worked well together.”

That was four years ago. Now, Tanya and Jure have three children – Ivan, 3, Cruz, 2, and five-month-old Belle – to fill up the 3,500-square-foot home that was their first co-production. The five-bedroom, six-bathroom house in Richmond, B.C., represents the couple’s shared vision. “We wanted a clean aesthetic with classic elements,” says Tanya. Though this might sound like a contradiction in terms, the neutral walls and black casement windows provide a fresh counterpoint to the home’s traditional panelling and coffered ceilings.

Photo Gallery

House tour: A stylish family-friendly home designed for everyday life

Save on accessories

Homeowner Tanya Krpan (pictured here) saved on accessories by loading the family room sectional with an assortment of ready-made toss cushions.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Beth Hitchcock
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: A stylish family-friendly home designed for everyday life

A grand entryway

Tanya isn’t afraid to play with negative space, as seen in the home’s grand entryway. “Normally, you’d expect a mirror or big piece of art hanging above the wainscotting,” she says. Leaving the wall blank and layering small pieces on the console allows the millwork to shine.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Beth Hitchcock
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: A stylish family-friendly home designed for everyday life

Create a contrast

Black casement windows and decorative accents create contrast in the neutral space. Tanya scored the vintage coffee table when her office was being redecorated.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Beth Hitchcock
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: A stylish family-friendly home designed for everyday life

Creating a classic-cool mix

The family room’s classic-cool mix feels right for a young family.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Beth Hitchcock
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: A stylish family-friendly home designed for everyday life

Restaurant-style kitchen

The kitchen, of course, is the true star of the show. Tanya’s restaurant-design pedigree shines through in the room’s floor-to-ceiling tiles, mix of open and closed storage and high-end appliances. She opted for white Shaker-style cabinetry and warmed up the space with a walnut island and brass hardware statement lighting and fixtures.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Beth Hitchcock
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: A stylish family-friendly home designed for everyday life

Traditional and contemporary space

Another bistro-inspired touch was her choice of dark honed-limestone tiles for most of the main floor. “The tile grounds the space since there’s an abundance of white everywhere,” Tanya explains. “And it’s proven great for hiding dirt.”

Image by: Style at Home
By: Beth Hitchcock
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: A stylish family-friendly home designed for everyday life

Designed for everyday life

Everything in the Krpans’ home is designed for everyday life and entertaining, from the large sectional in the family room to the round tables in the dining room and the kitchen’s eat-in area. “It’s more social to sit at a round table,” says Tanya. “You see everyone’s faces.”

Image by: Style at Home
By: Beth Hitchcock
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: A stylish family-friendly home designed for everyday life

Gorgeous, white display

Cabinets with glass doors allow Tanya to display her favourite serving pieces and special glassware. She had the back of the kitchen cabinets tiled to highlight this focal point of the kitchen.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Beth Hitchcock
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: A stylish family-friendly home designed for everyday life

A family affair

Tanya and Jure – with their sons, Ivan, 3, and Cruz, 2 – have recently welcomed a baby girl named Belle.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Beth Hitchcock
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: A stylish family-friendly home designed for everyday life

Brightening up the space

The living room’s crisp white, grey and black scheme gets an energy boost from fresh greenery, pops of pink and plenty of pattern – check out the Moroccan-style rug, the ikat-print and chevron-patterned toss cushions and the graphic stool fabric.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Beth Hitchcock
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: A stylish family-friendly home designed for everyday life

Feminine accessories on a budget

To offset the costs of the more expensive permanent elements, Tanya was meticulous with her decorating budget. She incorporated secondhand pieces, such as the family room coffee table, and sourced inexpensive art for the living room mantel. Affordable colourful accessories add youthful edginess to the living spaces. “I love the femininity that the splashes of pink add to the living room and family room,” she says. “Plus, by the time I got to the decorating, I was living with three boys!”

Image by: Style at Home
By: Beth Hitchcock
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: A stylish family-friendly home designed for everyday life

Mixing styles

In the dining room, Tanya likes the juxtaposition of the modern Sputnik-inspired chandelier with the traditional coffered ceiling. The artwork was a DIY project Tanya and Jure painted together on her 30th birthday.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Beth Hitchcock
Source: Janis Nicolay

House tour: A stylish family-friendly home designed for everyday life

Planning ahead

Though this house has been well loved for years, there’s a sequel in the works: Tanya and Jure are in the process of building a new home. “We’ll keep some of the same elements but go a little more modern in the kitchen,” says Tanya. We’ll definitely stay tuned.